San Cipriano: Private River Day Trip from Cali

From $170 USD per person

West of Cali, on the road to Buenaventura, the Pacific lowlands begin and Colombia changes character. San Cipriano is a nature reserve in the jungle corridor between the Andes and the Pacific, one of the most biodiverse places on earth, and it has no road. You reach it on a brujita: a wooden platform on an old railway track, pushed by a motorcycle engine, invented by the local Afro-Colombian community because nothing else could get there.

Eight to ten hours, private, from your hotel in Cali. Two hours by road to Córdoba, thirty minutes on the brujita, then the river, which runs about as clear as any in Colombia.

Check live availability and prices — or read on for how the day is built.

How the day works

• Pickup and the drive to Córdoba (about 2 hours). Our vehicle takes you from your hotel in Cali as far as the town of Córdoba, which is where the track starts.
• The brujita (about 30 minutes). A plank on rails with a motorbike engine bolted to it. It is the only way in, and it is also how people who live there get about.
• The reserve (about 2 hours). Your guide takes you into it. Float the river on a tube, swim the natural pools, walk the forest trails.
• Lunch (about 40 minutes). At a local restaurant inside the reserve, Pacific cooking, included.
• Brujita back, then the drive to Cali (about 2.5 hours).

What’s included

• A private English-speaking guide for the full day
• Private hotel pickup and drop-off in Cali
• Entry to the San Cipriano nature reserve
• Brujita transport in and out
• Lunch at a local restaurant inside the reserve
• All-risk insurance

Not included

• Extra purchases

Good to know

• Bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes. You will get wet in the river, and dry clothes for the two-hour drive back make a real difference.
• No vegan options on this tour. If you have dietary restrictions, tell us before booking so we can advise honestly.
• This tour is sold private and shared. They differ in pace, flexibility and who you travel with. Check which one you are booking.
• Tropical rainforest. Insect repellent, sunscreen and a light waterproof layer whatever the forecast says.
• The brujita is local transport, not a ride. You share the track with people going about their day. Treat it accordingly.
• Closed-toe shoes or sandals with straps. Uneven forest paths and river access. Not flip-flops.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is San Cipriano?

West of Cali, on the Cali to Buenaventura road. Our vehicle goes as far as the town of Córdoba; from there the brujita covers the last stretch, because there is no road.

What is a brujita?

A wooden platform that sits on the railway track and is driven by a motorcycle engine. The community built the system because the railway was there and a road never was.

Do I pay for reserve entry separately?

No. Entry is in the tour price and so is the brujita. Nothing to pay at the gate.

What is the river like?

Clear enough to see the bottom, and cold. You can float it on a tube, swim the pools, or sit beside it. Your guide sets the route inside the reserve.

Is lunch included?

Yes, at a local restaurant inside the reserve, cooked in the Pacific tradition. There are no vegan options, so tell us in advance if that matters.

How do I get to Cali in the first place?

Fly in, and we handle the ground. For the arrival, book a Cali airport transfer. For what to expect when you land, read the Cali airport guide.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in